Right off of Highway 400, conveniently located near Tanger Outlets in Cookstown, is a stellar Burger Joint with even friendlier service. Prior to 2014, the space that is now known as Burger Station was a retro diner. New owners turned it into a modern-day Lick’s, serving up delicious charbroiled burgers, thick and creamy milkshakes, crispy and grilled chicken sandwiches, and a variety of delicious side orders. Burger Station also offers Greek favourites like Gyros and Chicken souvlaki pitas and makes their own butter tarts in-house. Additionally, their expansive menu includes items without a bun, like chicken fingers and fish n’ chips. Vegetarian diners can also be satisfied with a veggie burger or grilled cheese sandwich.

When considering a meal at Burger Station, the essential menu item that diners should sample is one of their juicy, flavorful, perfectly sized charbroiled hamburgers. There are quite a few to choose from, depending on the flavors you’re craving or how hungry you are. The largest burger will set you back $20, but will allot you three of those slightly charred, delicious hamburger patties, three slices of real cheddar cheese, and three slices of bacon that are not too crispy, not too limp. On the opposite end of the spectrum, they offer the “Union Station,” which is a plain ol’ beef burger (albeit a delicious plain ol’ beef burger). Those who can’t decide between a burger or one of the available Greek options can have the best of both worlds and order either a Metro Burger (a single beef burger topped with tzatziki, lettuce, and bruschetta) or a Gyro Train Burger (that same delicious single beef burger topped off with gyro, tzatziki, tomato, red onion, & lettuce). There is also a grilled cheese burger and a steak sandwich (called the Central Station) available.

Personally, we tried the Grand Station Burger (two beef patties served with standard burger toppings – which are customizable by the way – and we added bacon for $1.30; pictured above) and the Loaded Train Burger (their feature of the month – a single patty topped with French fries, cheese, bacon, fried onions, and BBQ sauce; pictured below). The Grand Station was delicious and allowed us to truly taste the burger in all is charbroiled glory. The bacon is a must-add as it is quite honestly some of the best bacon we’ve had. The Loaded Train Burger was truly the star of the show, coming in hot (literally) with a bold, indulgent flavor that had us salty at the fact that we did not have more stomach space after our meal. The bacon added lovely saltiness that paired well with the subtle sweetness of the BBQ sauce and caramelized onions (these were not fried in the way we were expecting – but we’re definitely not complaining) in addition to creamy, melted cheddar cheese. The addition of fries gave a nice complexity to the texture of the burger that solidified it as the menu item we most highly recommend.

As for sides, Burger Station offers diners standards like traditional French fries, onion rings, and poutine, and sticks with their Greek-ish theme as well with the inclusion of Greek salad (added chicken is optional). The onion rings were cut thick and generously battered. We really liked that they weren’t overly greasy, as some onion rings can be. Personally, we prefer our onion rings more thin and crisp, but these definitely weren’t bad. The poutine was delicious as well, starring fresh cut, slightly crispy fries slathered in glossy brown gravy and piled generously with authentic, squeaky cheese curds. The gravy was a touch salty, but we enjoyed every last bite of that poutine.

To ensure that you roll – rather than walk – out of Burger Station, make sure you consider ordering something off their dessert menu. To warm up on a cooler day, Burger Station serves hot chocolate and specialty coffees (mocha, French vanilla, cappuccino, latte, and double espresso). On a warmer day, or whenever you’re craving it, there is also soft serve ice cream, Kawartha ice cream, and milkshakes to be had. We tried the chocolate shake, which was super creamy and thick (not too thick that it was difficult to suck up a straw, but not so watery that we consumed it like water) and had ample chocolate flavoring that was in the sweet spot between rich and subtle. We highly recommend you activate that dessert stomach and order one of these for the car ride home. Oh, and if you’re in the mood for more delicious treats – or you’re feeling guilty that family/friends did not get to experience the wonder that is Burger Station – order one of their homemade butter tarts. They come in three flavors (plain, pecan, and raisin) and can be bought individually or in a 6-pack. The crust is super buttery and crumbly, standing up quite well to the gooey middle filling.

Burger Station is truly a gem, and we (and our bellies) are happy to have visited.